It is one of my laments that in the process of
deciding upon an appropriate headstone or marker for a person
who had died, most people have ceased to tell the life story of
the person, either in design of the headstone or pictures or words
upon it. These days increasing numbers of people are pressured
by cemetery trusts, or even contractually restricted by them,
to limit the size and shape of the marker. This effectively restricts
what can be written about the deceased and their relationship/s
with the living.

Memorialisation can be one of the ways we express
our ongoing relationship with the deceased and recognise their
contribution to the meaning of our life. So, in order to encourage
interest, discussion and maybe some change in the current trend
I am going to add this section to our website.

On a recent visit to Australia's Northern Territory
I was wandering around the Memorial Cemetery (as you do) in Alice
Springs and came across the graves of some people of significance
in Australian history including Albert Namatjira, the Internationally
renowned Aboriginal artist, Also spread out across the red earth
of this cemetery in the Central Australian desert, were the graves
of much loved people and the design of their graves told a story.
I thought it would be a fitting memorial and an interesting process
to
record some of their images &/or stories for al to see.

Here is the beginning of who knows what.... I
will take pictures as I travel the globe and invite you to send
in any graves or memorials which make a statement.

Here are a few...

Albert Namatjira
Anyone who grew up in Australia from the middle of the 20th Century
will be familiar with his artwork. His grave... well the picture
tells a thousand words.

Albert Namatjira
Click on the photo to see a close-up of Albert Namatjira's grave

Too many babies die and too often we don't even
know why. We have seen many babies graves but this one will tell
you something about who is here even from a distance.

Click on the photo to see a larger version.

Lasseter, that
man who achieved fame but alas not fortune. At a time when the
outback need to attract settlers and was badly in need of a 'gold
rush' Lasseter claimed to have made a significant strike. He marked
the spot he could never find it again, though he did die trying.

Click on the photo of Lasseter's Grave to read
the words of Theodore Roosevelt placed on his grave as a tribute
to the pioneering spirit of Lasseter.